The current Civil Service (CS) Director is retiring on December 2, 2024. Until the City Manager (CM) and Human Resources (HR) Director completes the transition of the Civil Service Commission staff with the HR department, the CM intends to appoint a former CS Deputy Director* as an interim Executive Director to oversee the current CS employees. THIS REQUEST TO CITY COUNCIL IS ON THE AGENDA 11/19/2024, 5PM.
This action poses as a retaliation towards staff who were opposed to the 2024 General Election Local Ballot Measure JB. Why is this a form of retaliation? Because this *person is mentioned in the current, ongoing Class Action Suit as an alleged participant in the discrimination of black employees. (Stuart v City of Long Beach) Still today, there are employees who are plaintiffs of the case. Those employees and colleagues currently working in the CS department view the City's decision to move in this direction as retaliation, thus creating a hostile work environment.
This is disheartening and continues to be a political move beyond the election, "retaliation", that the City is choosing to send the message throughout the organization to its Black employees that they DO NOT MATTER, which also poses a threat to any employee that did not share the same view on the recently passed ballot measure.
The City has other options, 1) appoint one of the existing CS managers as interim, 2) appoint a HR Officer not currently involved in any discrimination lawsuit.
